Mississippi hairdresser does some sharpshooting at thieves: "A west Jackson hairdresser foiled an auto theft outside his business Friday morning with a .357 Magnum. Al Bell, 44, owner of Al's Style House at 5025 U.S. 80W, was tending to his first customer of the day, chatting with her and drinking coffee, when he looked at one of his security monitors and saw a pickup pulling up next to her sport utility vehicle. He saw two men get out, and one quickly wedge the driver's side door open and climb inside. "She was shocked, and I was too," he said. "We really just couldn't believe what was going on." This is what Bell said happened next: As his client called 911, he pulled the large handgun from a drawer, strode outside, raised his gun and yelled, "Freeze!" They bolted for the green, late model, four-door Ford pickup. Bell fired, blowing out the front driver's side tire of the Ford. The men were still scrambling for the truck. Again, Bell yelled "Freeze!" They did not stop. He fired again, flattening the rear driver's side tire of the truck. By this time, the men were in the truck and driving off - on two flat tires. Bell fired a third time, blowing a hole in the rear driver's side door. The truck roared off, east on U.S. 80 toward Metrocenter."


Hi-tech gun in sights: "A semi-automatic pistol used by elite US special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan could replace Victoria Police's antiquated revolvers. The Taurus 24/7 pistol, which holds 17 rounds, is among the brands in contention under a bold bid to re-arm the force. The cutting-edge pistol is being tried by the US Special Operations Command - the frontline military units in the war on terror. Weapons expert Jon Martin - a former Victoria Police firearms instructor and member of the elite Special Operations Group - is backing the gun as the force's new weapon of choice. Mr Martin, who recently returned from training Iraq's civilian police force, said it represented better value than the popular Heckler and Koch and the widely known Glock. "It's a recent development and it improves on some of the identified deficiencies with the Glock and the Heckler and Koch," Mr Martin said. Costing about $500 each, the Brazil-made guns are half the price of the Heckler and Koch and 20 per cent cheaper than the Glock. Director of military supplies consultancy firm Nexcom, George Hateley, said semi-automatics were considered best practice in international policing. Mr Martin said semi-automatics were easier to load under pressure and were less likely than revolvers to malfunction when dirty. They also had less recoil after firing and were built with anatomical grips that made the weapon easier to control."